Exeter explores wastewater deal with Portsmouth

Tuesday

Jan 21, 2014 at 2:00 AM

EXETER — Town Manager Russ Dean said he reached out to the city of Portsmouth about possibly finding a regional solution to tougher federal nitrogen discharge levels in hopes of saving sewer ratepayers money.

Jeff McMenemy

EXETER — Town Manager Russ Dean said he reached out to the city of Portsmouth about possibly finding a regional solution to tougher federal nitrogen discharge levels in hopes of saving sewer ratepayers money.

"As you would imagine, I think we're committed to exploring any alternative that would meet our goal," Dean said.

Dean sent a letter to Portsmouth City Manager John Bohenko dated Jan. 15, explaining that Exeter and Stratham "have been working on a potential agreement for shared water and sewer services in the future," because of the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to set lower nitrogen discharge levels.

"To that end, we would like to engage with the city of Portsmouth along with our neighbors to explore any and all alternatives that may end up in a lower overall cost to Exeter ratepayers while creating a 'holistic solution' if one can be found," Dean wrote in the letter.

Dean emphasized that the process of talking to Portsmouth is in its preliminary stages, and they really haven't addressed what any potential agreements could look like.

But he said it makes sense to see if the municipalities could save money by having Portsmouth build a new wastewater treatment plant — with Stratham and Exeter perhaps sharing some of the costs — rather than having both Exeter and Portsmouth build new plants.

"I think it has to be the right deal and the right framework," Dean said. "We're still committed to building a wastewater facility, but if a regional deal pops up, we're not opposed to looking at it."

Town officials have included an article on this year's warrant that calls for spending $5 million "for the engineering design of a wastewater treatment facility."

Stratham selectmen, who have also been negotiating with Exeter officials about a potential regional water and sewer deal, sent a letter to Portsmouth in December saying they wanted to "explore" the possibility of entering into a regional wastewater agreement with the city.

Stratham Board of Selectmen Chairman David Canada said at the time they were doing their "due diligence" by reaching out to Portsmouth.

Dean estimates it will cost Exeter roughly $40 million to build its own plant after entering into an administrative order of consent with the EPA in January 2013.

"Plus another million and a half to two million a year to run it," Dean said Friday.

One possible regional solution would be shipping Exeter's sewage to Portsmouth for treatment through a line that would run from Exeter to Stratham, then Stratham to Greenland and then finally to Portsmouth, he said.

"It's not fleshed out yet," he said about any possible regional solutions.

Exeter Board of Selectmen Chairman Don Clement said he supports Dean's efforts, saying it makes sense to "look at all alternatives in the short run and in the long run that provide financial relief to Exeter ratepayers."

He also stressed the process is "really in the very early stages."

Clement said he doesn't believe voters will be confused or less likely to vote for the warrant article in March that asks for $5 million for Exeter to design its own plant.

"This is all about can we work together from a different perspective for wastewater treatment," Clement said.

He said he spoke to Dean briefly about his plan to send a letter to Portsmouth.

"He just brought it to my attention," Clement said Friday.

Selectman Frank Ferraro said he didn't know about Exeter's intention to reach out to Portsmouth until he read about it on Seacoastonline.com, but he thinks it's smart for Dean to explore alternatives.

"I guess my first reaction is it's part of the town manager's job to be looking for opportunities," Ferraro said Monday. "He's just asking if there's an interest in starting such discussions."

Ferraro said he does think it will be important for Dean to "do some education of the public about what he's actually asking about," with Portsmouth, before Exeter residents vote on the warrant article in March.

Ferraro also noted that even if the town passes a warrant article, "it doesn't mean we're obligated to spend it right away."

"We can delay spending if there are serious discussions or we can initiate it slowly so we're still in compliance with the consent order," Ferraro said.

Exeter selectmen voted unanimously in January 2013 to accept the EPA's consent order, which requires Exeter to reduce the amount of nitrogen it releases into the Squamscott River during the treatment process to 3 milligrams per liter.

Like Newmarket, Exeter will initially be required to get down to a limit of 8 milligrams per liter and then have additional time to do more testing before being required to get down to 3 milligrams per liter, which is considered the limit of technology by current treatment standards.

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